Not a penny for the missionaries. Keep politics out of it. Why do you fund guerrillas? Are you Oxfam with hymns? These are some of the characteristic doorstep responses that have been and are still made to Christian Aid, especially during its great fund-raising activity of the year, Christian Aid Week. They indicate that there is a good deal of ignorance and confusion about the way in which Christians respond to poverty. This book attempts to provide some basic information, in an attractive way, about how churches and church organizations around the world have tried to make an effective response to the poor over the past half-century. It discusses the main issues in a thematic way, looking in particular at controversies that surround church-related aid, relief, mission and development agencies in the first world. Among the topics treated, using case studies and ecumenical statements, are the wholeness of Christian mission, the links between personal action and political action, and the ambiguities of power. Other contemporary challenges addressed are doubts about aid in the persistence of poverty, the scale of emergencies in Africa and the churches' ability to respond to them, competition or free market charity and compassion fatigue. In conclusion the book suggests what it means to respond to poverty in a Christian and ecumenical way and draws out some implications for the future. Published in collaboration with the World Council of Churches. Michael Taylor was Director of Christian Aid.

The riches of the Jewish year with its high holy days, its times of preparation and celebration are opened up for all in this anthology of prayer, arranged in forty sections, which draws deeply on the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament and the Jewish spiritual tradition. Christian readers will be enriched by a deeper encounter with the roots of their own faith and the patterns of prayer and worship by which many Christian rituals and observances are shaped.

In recent years many books have been published in the area of Christology (who is Jesus in himself?) and soteriology (what did he do as Saviour?). A number of notable, ecumenical documents on Christian ministry have also appeared. But in all this literature there is surprisingly little reflection on the priesthood of Christ, from which derives all ministry, whether the priesthood of all the faithful or ministerial priesthood. This present work aims to fill that gap by examining, in the light of the Scriptures and the Christian tradition, what it means to call Christ our priest.
Beginning with a study of the biblical material, the book then moves to the witness to Christ's priesthood coming from the fathers of the Church, Thomas Aquinas, Luther and Calvin, the Council of Trent, the seventeenth-century 'French School', John Henry Newman, Tom Torrance and the Second Vatican Council. The two concluding chapters describe and define in twelve theses the key characteristics of Christ's priesthood and what sharing in that priesthood, through baptism and ordination, involves.

Description: By all accounts, the modern ecumenical movement is not moving much these days. Despite dramatic breakthroughs in the past few decades, the quest for a visibly united church--in which there is common confession of the apostolic faith, full Eucharistic communion, and mutual recognition of members and ministers--now meets with indifference by many, impatience by some, and outright hostility by others. In part, this is because the movement has not given enough attention to grassroots ecumenical engagement. This book is written to convince ordinary Christians, especially young Christian adults, that they too have a stake in the future of the ecumenical movement as its most indispensable participants. Ecumenism Means You, Too draws on the music of Irish rock band U2 to cast artistic light on various aspects of the quest for Christian unity. Whether one is a U2 fan or not, and whether one thinks the ecumenical movement is a good thing or a bad thing for the church, everyone who reads this book will learn something about the Christian theological framework apart from which neither the modern ecumenical movement nor the meaning of U2's music can be understood. The book includes an annotated bibliography of resources for ecumenical engagement and a glossary of key ecumenical terms for readers who want to learn more about the Christian practice of seeking the unity of the church. Endorsements: ."" . . at once profound and straightforward, deeply reflected yet highly accessible, theologically rich yet directly practical . . . a source of wisdom to be absorbed into the life-blood of each of our widely differing communities for their mutual enrichment . . . a superbly inviting and practical manifestation of what has come to be referred to as Receptive Ecumenism."" --Paul D. Murray Durham University, UK ""Whether you are passionate about, disappointed by, or indifferent to the church: if you love God, you need this book. Harmon shows you why mutual tolerance is not the unity that Jesus desired for his Body, and he gives you the tools to start knitting back together the broken pieces of the church-so the world might believe. This little book should be the marching orders for every Christian "" --Sarah Hinlicky Wilson Institute for Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg, France ""Few books on the ecumenical movement are as readable, and I would wager none has as appealing a soundtrack. Harmon invites us to strive for the hope of fuller visible unity with sisters and brothers in Christ, not by ignoring denominational differences, but by acknowledging what divides us while refusing to settle for division. The 'Ten Things You Can Do for the Unity of the Church' list alone is worth the price of the book."" --Beth Maynard co-editor of Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog About the Contributor(s): Steven R. Harmon teaches Christian Theology at Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. A member of the Baptist World Alliance delegations to the international theological conversations with the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches and a plenary member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, he is the author of Towards Baptist Catholicity: Essays on Tradition and the Baptist Vision (2006). He blogs about his work in ecumenical theology at www.ecclesialtheology.blogspot.com.

Bound Together is a unique resource that addresses the intrinsic relationship between social justice issues and local faith and ecumenical community building. Bos articulates the theological warrants for ecumenical and interfaith ministry at a local level, showing how neighboring congregations of various denominations or faiths, simply by virtue of their common relationship to a surrounding community, have a theological connection that can cooperatively undergird joint ministry ventures. He explores how congregations or denominations of the same or different faiths can combine their resources and design a common strategy or program in response to the needs and assets of their particular community. To demonstrate, he takes a close look at both the African American denominations and the theology of the laity movement.

This book is ecumenical, interreligious, and metareligious in nature. It may have a provocative title, but it is the subtitle that says what the book is really about. The book is not simply an attack on religion, but offers ideas for improving religion, any religion. It defines what makes a true religion, in the most positive meaning of the term, and what makes a cult, in the most negative meaning. Rather than just pointing fingers, however, the book introduces the six criteria that make a religion, even a minority religion a true religion, and these ideas can be used to improve every religion by its believers, or by those who are priests, monks, rabbis, mullahs, religious people of any kind, or theologians. This book is for everyone, with religious ideas applicable to all religions, even Islam - in fact, the author justifies the applicability and necessity of the book by citing both the Qur'an and Muhammad. This book can increase or promote interreligious dialogue, and in a way that does not offend anyone in particular. It could also give new lustre to all religions with followers and clergy with an open mind.

First major book-length study on this subject written by a Protestant in more than a century. / The dogma of papal infallibility has become increasingly problematic for Roman Catholics, and it is a major point of division in Christian ecumenical dialogue arguably the key issue separating Catholics and other Christians today. Mark Powell here contends that papal infallibility has inevitable shortcomings as a way to secure religious certainty. After introducing the doctrine, he illustrates those limitations in the life and writings of four prominent Catholic theologians: Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, John Henry Cardinal Newman, Avery Cardinal Dulles, and Hans Kng. / The book concludes with a fresh proposal for conceiving religious epistemology, ecclesial authority, and ecumenical agreement. Powell's Papal Infallibility is an accessible, critical study for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

This book argues that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, locked as they have been over the centuries in many kinds of mutual enmity and violence, now need to join resources to resist the destructive economic and political forces now on the loose across the globe, some of which distrust among these faiths has tended to intensify. Such a project requires relational practices among the faiths, all of them based on mutual moral commitments that draw on the respective communities' scriptural traditions of covenantal promise-keeping. That is, each tradition has a gift of responsibility, both to its God and to its people. Mudge wants to plumb the resources of each of these religions and encourage them to be responsible in taking these gifts seriously.Such relational practices are hardly used as resources in interreligious dialogue. Mudge contends that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are called to practice moral hospitality and covenantal humanism in order to foster justice and responsibility in societies around the globe.

Cosmic Grace, Humble Prayer presents the powerful ecological vision of Patriarch Bartholomew, drawing together a comprehensive collection of his church statements and occasional addresses, some available in English only here. This second edition provides an updated selection of letters and addresses by the Patriarch, including such statements from 2003 to 2007. / Editor John Chryssavgis has organized these pieces chronologically and thematically, highlighting particular points of interest and importance. In addition, he provides a substantial historical and theological introduction to the initiatives and writings of Patriarch Bartholomew that also invites readers into the unparalleled environmental perspective of the Orthodox Church.

Apostolicity Then and Now explores apostolicity from its origin to today. Apostolicity is a undamental mark of the Church, referring to Jesus' faith given to, carried on, and taught--unaltered--by a continuous line of apostles. This book primarily focuses on how apostolicity pertains to the Church as whole and views apostolic succession in light of how apostolicity is applicable to the Church. Scriptural, historical, theological, and ecumenical contexts provide a thorough study that includes worldviews and their impact on apostolicity. Chapters are "Who Were the Apostles?" "Why the Early Churches Understood Themselves as Apostolic," "Apostolicity in History," "Apostolicity and the Theologians," "Apostolicity and the Classical and Modern Worldviews," "Apostolicity in a Postmodern World," "Apostolicity in Ecumenical Dialogue," and "Apostolicity in an Ecumenical Church."

Marriage and families are becoming increasingly complex. No longer can any of us speak with simplicity about what a "typical" family is like, now that our vocabulary includes words like "single parent," "blended," and "multi-faith." "Inerfaith Families" is a brief, usable book designed for ministers and priests to use with congregants who are entering into, or are already in, an interchurch (Reformed-Catholic) marriage. It can also be useful for laity involved in interchurch families.

James Heisig has spent his life traveling along many roads--living in Japan, Spain, England, and the United States, and listening to other religious traditions while remaining a Roman Catholic. In this book, Heisig draws from this worldly insight, and presents an invaluable dialogue between Christianity and Buddhism.

The Princeton Proposal is a landmark statement on the present situation and future possibilities of modern ecumenism. Drafted by sixteen theologians and ecumenists from various church traditions, who met over a period of three years in Princeton, New Jersey, this document seeks to steer contemporary efforts at church unity away from social and political agendas, which are themselves divisive, and back to the chief goal of the modern ecumenical movement -- the visible unity of Christians worldwide, of all those who are reconciled in one body through the cross.

Since the study group that produced this statement was instituted and its participants were chosen by an independent ecumenical foundation, the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, their unofficial work presents especially profound and creative reflection on the ecumenical task. With this report the study group members do not claim to speak "for" their churches, but hope to speak "to" all the churches out of shared concern for the founding ecumenical imperative that they all may be one . . . so that the world may believe.

Signatories of the Princeton Proposal: William Abraham
Mark Achtemeier
Brian Daley
John H. Erickson
Vigen Guroian
George Lindbeck
Lois Malcolm
Bruce McCormack
R. R. Reno
Michael Root
William G. Rusch
Geoffrey Wainwright
Susan K. Wood
Telford Work
J. Robert Wright
David Yeago

These studies represent a stocktaking at the end of the 20th century of "the unity we have" and a reassessment of "the unity we seek". It provides a well-documented overview of the field: a thorough and accessible introduction for everyone with an interest in ecumenism and a resource for everyone involved at any level.;A substantial section charts some of the major ecumenical developments of the 20th century and some of the new problems that have emerged. The goal of "visible unity" remains unchanged - but what sort of visible unity and how should we move towards it?

Wisdom Has Built Her House brings together for the first time the collected studies of Silvia Schroer on the biblical figure of Sophia, divine Wisdom. Schroer presents a differentiated image of Wisdom as female, creator, teacher, prophet, beloved, and more. In Wisdom Has Built Her House Schroer portrays Wisdom as a cosmic ordering principle, as universal architect, and as mediator of all scientific knowledge. Schroer also inquires about the contexts of these writings: about feminine wisdom and women's roles after the Babylonian exile, about the goddess traditions behind the idea of Sophia, and about their significance within a monotheistic symbol system. Schroer then follows the tradition of God imaged as Wisdom to the time of the Jesus- movement and the first Christian communities. Teachers, students, and those looking for a well-reasoned study of personified Wisdom - and reasons for reinvisioning our own images of God - will find this in Wisdom Has Built Her House. Chapters are Wisdom on the Path of Righteousness (Proverbs 8:20)," "Divine Wisdom and Postexilic Monotheism," "Wise Women and Counselors in Israel: Models for Personified Hokma," "'And When the Next War Began . . .' The Wise Woman of Abel of Beth-maacah (2 Samuel 20:14-22)," "Abigail: A Wise Woman Works for Peace," "The One Lord and Male Dominance in the Book of Jesus Sirach: The Image of Woman and the Image of Wisdom in a Misogynist Document," "Personified Sophia in the Book of Wisdom," "Jesus Sophia," and "The Spirit, Wisdom, and the Dove."

Over the past two hundred years, several scholars have concluded that Jesus was a Cynic, a magician, a witch, a wise teacher, and a Jewish apocalyptic prophet. These papers, collected from two conferences at Creighton University, draw on some of the best contemporary scholarship in historical Jesus studies. Catholic scholars Luke Timothy Johnson, Daniel Harrington, and Monika Hellwig provide overviews of the history of the search for the historical Jesus. Jewish scholars Alan Segal, Amy-Jill Levine, and Adele Reinhartz explore the significance of Jesus for Judaism and for contemporary culture. With clear insight, the essays point out the ways that historical Jesus scholarship can be applied to everyday issues. The essays offer a unique perspective on the historical Jesus that provides a view contrary to many other contemporary books on Jesus. Contributors include: Bernard Brandon Scott (University of Tulsa); Luke Timothy Johnson (Emory University); Daniel Harrington (Weston School of Theology); Monika Hellwig (Georgetown University); Michael Cook (Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion); Amy-Jill Levine (Vanderbilt University Divinity School); Adele Reinhartz (McMaster University); Alan Segal (Barnard College); and Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus (Wheaton College). Bryan F. Le Beau is the John C. Kenefick Faculty Chair in the Humanities at Creighton University. Leonard Greenspoon holds the Philip and Ethel Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization and is Chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies at Creighton University. Dennis Hamm, S.J., is Professor of Theology at Creighton University.

Originally written as a text book for the TEE College, this book has a much wider appeal. The 29 contributors reflect the rich diverse denominational traditions and backgrounds that make up the mosaic of the Church in South Africa. The 27 chapters examine ecumenism itself, ecumenical organisations (national, contextual and international), and differences between. Ecumenism's relationship and mission are presented. Necessarily a broad brush approach, the book aims to be informative and to enable one to understand the rich nature and history of ecumenism.